DIY Stepping Stones

I’m pretty sure cement pavers are desperately crying out to be bedazzled. Painted. Noticed. It’s so easy to do and will make you happy, so why not release your paver’s inner beauty?

Supplies

Cement Pavers

Spray Paint

Stencils, Painter's Tape, Doilies, etc.

Rubber Gloves

Clear Coat Spray

Drop Cloth

Foam Brushes

There’s something really wonderful about a touch of pretty or whimsy in your landscaping beds. Nestled into some mud or mulch, pavers keep our feet dry and usually provide a path to something divine. So, let’s repay them for their service and turn them into something beautiful!

STEP 1: Paver, Paver, Whose Got the Paver?

Pavers come in all shapes and sizes. The best one for this project is the flat, stepping stone variety. Circle, rectangle or square…it’s up to you. You can find them in the landscape area of your favorite Waters store.

STEP 2: Get Creative

What do you want your stepping stone to look like when it’s all said and done? Go with your inner Picasso, or check out Pinterest for some great ideas. I used a stencil, a doily and painter’s tape for examples in the video. Next, pick out your colors – make them matchy matchy or an eclectic hodge podge – this is totally your thing, do what makes your heart sing!

STEP 3: Protect Yourself!

This project can get a little messy. I recommend using a drop cloth to cover the ground you’ll be painting on, as well as some rubber gloves to protect your hands from the spray paint. (As the video will show, I did not wear gloves. I regretted it for a full 6.5 days.)

STEP 4: Get Your Craft On – but Carefully!

I like to rush things. This is not a project to be rushed. Make sure you do your prep work so once the painting gets started, it can be fun rather than anxiety-producing. (And it will look super cute, as opposed to kind of sloppy and weird.) Apply your spray paint, making sure to spray in short, even bursts and do a few thin coats as opposed to one heavy one. After your spray paint is dry, give it a couple of coats of clear spray. Both Krylon and Rust-Oleum make great products. This will ensure that your stepping stone’s new look lasts a long, long time.

STEP 5: Wait…You’re Done??

That’s it folks. Fold up your drop cloth, put your paint away, toss your patterns (except for the stencils, keep those babies!) and place your new, magnificent stepping stones on the ground. Be sure to take after photos and post them on Pinterest or Facebook. This really is one of those “Oh my gosh you’re SO creative and artistic! This must have taken you forever!” projects. That’s ok, no one but us has to know how easy it is. Go ahead, bask in it. Your pavers are. 🙂